| Bethal | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Mpumalanga#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -26.45°N 56°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mpumalanga |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Gert Sibande |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Govan Mbeki |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1898[1] |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 51.94 |
| Elevation M: | 1660 |
| Population Total: | 60779 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 84.7% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 0.9% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.8% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 13.2% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 66.7% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 13.1% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | S. Ndebele |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 6.8% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | English |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 3.5% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 10.0% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 2310 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 2310 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 017 647 |
Bethal is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye and potatoes. The town lies 155km (96miles) east of Johannesburg on the N17 national route.
The town originated on an old farm called Blesbokspruit.[3] The town, established in on 12 October 1880,[4] was named after the combined names of the wives of the owners of the farm, Elizabeth du Plooy and Alida Naude.[3] It became a municipality in 1921.[3]
Bethal is famous for its potato industry,[3] and the annual National Potato Festival was held there in early May, but discontinued in 2007. Other agriculture includes maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye, oats and barley. Animal husbandry includes cattle, dairy and sheep farming.[3] Bethal was once the headquarters of AFGRI, and agricultural firm, now based in Centurion but its flour mill remains in the town.[3]
Bethal lies in South Africa's coal mining region and there are mines close by. Exxaro acquired the Total Coal South Africa in 2014 and has five mines in the area.[3] Apart from exports, the coal is used in the Eskom power stations that dot the region.
The Olifants River has its origin near Bethal.[5] The river eventually flows into the Limpopo River in Mozambique.
Bethal lies in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality (formerly Highveld East Local Municipality) situated in the Gert Sibande District, of Mpumalanga.
Bethal is the crossroads of three main roads. The R38 leads out north-east to Carolina and south-west to Standerton. The R35 leads north to Middleburg 80km (50miles) away while the R35 connects south to Amersfoort 80 km away. The N17 connects westwards to Johannesburg and eastwards to Ermelo and Eswatini.